Here’s another design that struck us as an obvious idea, after we saw it. Emanuele Pizzolorusso, in collaboration with Palomar, took the untearable, waterproof material known as Tyvec, and created Crumpled City Maps. Unlike paper maps, they no longer need to be carefully folded along increasingly fragile creases, but can be nonchalantly stuffed into your bag or pocket, rain or shine.

Crumpled City Maps are printed with impregnated inks which do not rub off even with repeated abuse. These durable maps are eco-friendly in their reusability. They are perfect for travelers: weighing only 21
grams, they can be taken for sight-seeing in a new city, and even suggest favorite places called “soul spots.”

Palomar is a geo-friendly manufacturer, an erstwhile maker of telescope lenses, they have branched to support the act of discovery and exploration of the world. With Zoom Art, the pocket telescope for viewing art and architecture, the Galileo Telescope, and the Crumpled City Maps, among others, they are finding their “soul spot” in the world of design.

Other cities will be available in 2011. All Crumpled City Maps are boxed, and include a pouch.